Positioning device for the halves of slaughtered animals bodies for optical capture in the cleaving plane

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a positioning apparatus for animal carcass halves, particularly slaughtered pig halves, for the parallel alignment of the cleaving plane with the imaging plane of a camera. According to the invention, the positioning apparatus with respect to the cleavage side ( 11 ) preferably comprises a rear guide element ( 4 ), which is disposed movably at the level of the upper guide ( 1 ) and which in the region of the imaging position of the slaughtered pig half ( 10 ) has rollers ( 8 ), ( 8.1; 8.2; 8.3 ) as pressure elements.

The invention relates to a positioning device for halves of slaughtered animal bodies, in particular pig halves, suspended on hooks for optical capture in the cleaving plane with subsequent evaluation and classification.

In slaughterhouses and meat processing installations, halves of slaughtered animal bodies, such as pig halves, are usually transported suspended on a single hook, Euro hook, e.g. via tubular tracks, wherein the left and right half of a slaughtered animal are suspended on successive hooks.

Evaluation and classification of pigs are carried out according to the relevant requirements on the basis of the left half, e.g. by means of optical image processing, for which purpose an optical capture is effected in the cleaving plane, such as in the ham and loin region, with the aid of an electronic camera.

In order to avoid parallax errors, which would lead to measurement errors during computer-aided evaluation of the captures and to incorrect quality classification and evaluations, the halves of slaughtered animal bodies are guided in a known manner in the cleaving plane by at least two guide tubes or elements, which are disposed in a horizontally in a fixed manner vertically one above the other with a sufficient spaced disposition, outside the relevant capture region.

In practice it may be the case that halves suspended on single hooks are not aligned exactly in parallel with the capture plane owing to the position of the centre of gravity being unfavourable or owing to poor sliding movement on the guides.

DE 30 49 589 A1 discloses a device for classifying meat using a plate to align the slaughtered animal halves in the measuring station. The slaughtered animal halves are supplied to the measuring station with video cameras for sensing the slaughtered animal halves along a transport track.

An alignment plate is disposed on a support bracket and is in the form of a scoop with a rectangular contact surface. The alignment plate is brought towards the transport track by means of a working cylinder. The slaughtered animal half comes to lie against the plate by reason of its own weight, and video capture takes place.

The alignment plate used for positioning purposes is constructionally and mechanically complex, wherein, in addition, only small through-put quantities of halves of slaughtered animal bodies can be classified.

The object of the invention is to develop a positioning device for halves of slaughtered animal bodies, in particular slaughtered pig halves, for parallel alignment of the cleaving plane with respect to the capture plane of a camera.

The object is achieved by the features given in claim 1. Preferred developments are given in the subordinate claims.

A positioning device for halves of slaughtered pigs for optical capture in the cleaving plane, in particular in the ham and loin region, consists substantially of at least two front guide tubes or elements, which are disposed in parallel and horizontally on vertical supports vertically one above the other with a sufficient spaced disposition, outside the relevant capture region, and of at least one guide element, which is disposed in a movable manner with respect to the cleaving side preferably behind the upper guide tube and, in the capture position of the slaughtered pig half, comprises rollers as pressure elements.

In cooperation with the front guide tubes or elements, the rollers in the capture region ensure the precisely parallel alignment of the cleaving plane with respect to the capture plane of the camera.

The axes of the rollers are offset with respect to each other in the horizontal plane in the capture region in such a way that, over a region of their periphery, these rollers press the cleaving plane over the whole surface of the back contour against the front guide tube or element so that the parallelism for the capture plane of the camera is ensured.

Alternatively, the rollers can have different diameters in the back region of the slaughtered pig half in order to be able to apply pressure over the contour at least three points.

The guide element with the rollers is received by two angled levers each with a weight, wherein the axis of rotation of the levers is preferably disposed in extensions of the vertical retainers of the guide element at a fixed point.

Optionally, the guide tubes or elements as well as the guide element have at least one roller in each case at the inlet in order to ensure the vertical suspension of the slaughtered pig half in the capture region.

The vertical spaced disposition of the fixed guide tubes or elements is adjustable in order to ensure precise capture of locally imposed size differences in the slaughtered pigs.

Since the pigs are always evaluated on the basis of the left half, it is useful to move the right half past the guide tubes or elements with the back to the camera.

In the region of the inlet to the horizontal guide tubes or elements there is disposed for this purpose a run-up element on which the respective foreleg of the pig half runs up and for the left half effects rotation of the cleaving plane in the direction of the camera position and for the right half effects this with the back.

In an embodiment variation at least one roller is also disposed in each case in the region of the inlet of the slaughtered pig halves on the guide tubes or elements.

In the specific case of supplying the halves suspended on the hook via an inclined tubular track, the axes of the rollers are inclined corresponding to the angle of the tubular track extending over the inlet in order to ensure the vertical position of the half in the capture region of the camera.

The particular advantage of the positioning device consists of the reliable alignment of the cleaving plane of the slaughtered pig half suspended on a hook with respect to the capture plane so that no parallax errors arise during capture and precise evaluation and classification are ensured.

The positioning device is inexpensive to produce and is functionally reliable.

A modular construction for the positioning device is advantageous, so that quick and easy adaptation to required through-put quantities and local conditions in the slaughterhouse is possible.

The positioning device can also be cleaned easily and to a safe standard owing to the solid surface formation of the rollers and to their bearing points being covered.

In a favourable manner all surfaces coming into contact with the slaughtered animal body are provided with a known functional surface which also has an antimicrobial effect.

The invention will be explained in more detail as an exemplified embodiment with the aid of FIG. 1 as a schematic illustration of the positioning device with a slaughtered pig half in a vertical cross-section; and

FIG. 2 as a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the positioning device with a slaughtered pig half, shown in the region of the upper guides.

As shown in FIG. 1 a positioning device consists essentially at least of a front upper guide 1 and a lower guide 2 in parallel therewith, on vertical supports 3 (3.1; 3.2) which can be anchored to the ground, and of a rear guide element 4 at one end of a lever 6 (6.1; 6.2), which can be rotated at a fixed point 5 (5.1; 5.2), the other end of which receives a mass 7 (7.1; 7.2).

As shown in FIG. 2, in the region of the capture position, rollers 8 (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) are disposed on the rear guide element 3.

The roller 8.2 is axially offset with respect to the rollers 8.1 and 8.3 so that over a back contour 9 of a slaughtered pig half 10, illustrated in a stylised manner in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of an operative connection of the masses 7.1 and 7.2, the levers 6.1 and 6.2, the rear guide element 4 and the periphery of the rollers 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 a force is applied at three points, so that the surface of a cleaving side 11 of the slaughtered pig half 10 suspended on a hook 12 on a transport track lies against the guides 1, 2 and is therefore directed in parallel with the capture plane of a camera 13.

In embodiment variations the roller 8.2 can be mounted on the underside of the rear guide element 4, wherein the rollers 8.1 and 8.3 are disposed on the upper side of the guide element, or the roller 8.2 and the rollers 8.1 and 8.3 are disposed on opposite sides, or the roller 8.2 is formed in the manner of two rollers, one of which is disposed above the rear guide element 4 and the other is disposed beneath the rear guide element 4.

At the inlet of the positioning device a further roller 14 is disposed on the upper guide 1 and an additional roller 15 is disposed on the rear guide element 4, which rollers ensure vertical entry of the slaughtered pig half 10 suspended on the hook 12.

The height and vertical spaced disposition of the guides 1; 2 is adapted to the local conditions by means of their adjustable retainers 16 (16.1; 16.2; 16.3) on the vertical supports 3.1 and 3.2, corresponding to the height of the conveying device and the size of the slaughtered pig halves 10.

In order to adapt the height of the rollers 8 (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) on the rear guide element 4 so that the radial middle thereof coincides with the main axis of the upper guide 1, an adjustment element 17 (17.1; 17.2) is provided on the lever 6 or on a retainer of the rear guide element 4 on the lever 6 (6.1; 6.2).

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED

-   1 upper guide -   2 lower guide -   3 vertical support (3.1; 3.2) -   4 rear guide element -   5 fixed point (5.1; 5.2) -   6 lever (6.1; 6.2) -   7 mass (7.1; 7.2) -   8 rollers (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) -   9 back contour -   10 slaughtered pig half -   11 cleaving side -   12 hook -   13 camera -   14 further roller -   15 additional roller -   16 retainers (16.1; 16.2; 16.3) -   17 adjustment element (17.1; 17.2) 

1. Positioning device for halves of slaughtered animal bodies, in particular pig halves, suspended on hooks for the parallel alignment of the cleaving plane with respect to a capture plane of a camera for the subsequent evaluation and classification by means of optical image processing, comprising at least two guide tubes or elements disposed horizontally on vertical supports vertically one above the other with a sufficient spaced disposition, outside the relevant capture region facing the camera, characterised in that in relation to the cleaving side (11), preferably at the level of the upper guide (1), a rear guide element (4) is disposed in a movable manner and, in the region of the capture position of the slaughtered pig half (10), comprises rollers (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) as pressure elements.
 2. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rear guide element (4) is connected to one end of a lever (6.1; 6.2) which can rotate about a fixed point (5.1; 5.2), and a mass (7.1; 7.2) is located at the other end of the rotatable lever (6.1; 6.2).
 3. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the axes of the rollers (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) are offset with respect to each other corresponding to a back contour (9) in the back region of the slaughtered pig half (10) in the horizontal plane in the capture region.
 4. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rollers (8.1; 8.2; 8.3) have different diameters corresponding to the back contour (9) in the back region of the slaughtered pig half (10).
 5. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the roller (8.2) and the rollers (8.1; 8.3) are disposed on opposite sides of the rear guide element (4).
 6. Positioning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to claim 1, characterised in that the roller (8.2) is formed in the manner of two rollers, one of which being disposed above the rear guide element (4) and the other being disposed beneath the rear guide element (4).
 7. Positioning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 claim 1, characterised in that at the inlet of the positioning device a further roller (14) is disposed on the upper guide (1) and an additional roller (15) is disposed on the rear guide element (4).
 8. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the axes of the further roller (14) and of the additional roller (15) are inclined corresponding to the angle of a tubular track extending in an inclined manner over the inlet.
 9. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rollers (8.1; 8.2; 8.3; 14; 15) are formed with a solid surface and their bearing points are covered.
 10. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in the region of the inlet of the positioning device there is disposed a run-up element on which the respective foreleg of the slaughtered pig half (10) runs up and for the left half effects rotation of the cleaving side (11) in the direction of the camera (13).
 11. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the positioning device is constructed in a modular manner.
 12. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the guides (1; 2) comprise retainers (16.1; 16.2; 16.3) which can be adjusted on the vertical supports (3.1; 3.2).
 13. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that an adjusting element (17.1; 17.2) is provided on the lever (6.1; 6.2) or on a retainer of the rear guide element (4).
 14. Positioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that all of the surfaces coming into contact with the slaughtered animal body are provided with a functional surface which also comprises an antimicrobial effect. 